EDITORIAL: 'Attaboy!' for FWB's dog park

Published: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 05:45 PM.

Last fall, the Daily News raised hackles among supporters of the dog park planned for a corner of Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach. We praised park boosters’ plan to collect donations, and then said dog parks appeal to a small segment of the public. We said such parks shouldn’t become a burden on taxpayers.
From the reaction, you’d think we had insulted dogs and dog owners everywhere.
But we were right about the funding. The Fort Walton Beach dog park didn’t need an infusion of taxpayer cash.
The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce says it has raised more than half of the $30,000 it thinks is needed to build the dog park. It expects to use $14,300 of the money on hand to pay for park fencing.
“Now we’re raising money for the inside stuff — water stations, doggie disposable bag dispensers, benches, stuff like that,” said Ted Corcoran, chamber CEO and president. “We will continue the fund-raising.”
So far, so good. For more information or to donate, call the chamber at 244-8191.

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Last fall, the Daily News raised hackles among supporters of the dog park planned for a corner of Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach. We praised park boosters’ plan to collect donations, and then said dog parks appeal to a small segment of the public. We said such parks shouldn’t become a burden on taxpayers.
From the reaction, you’d think we had insulted dogs and dog owners everywhere.
But we were right about the funding. The Fort Walton Beach dog park didn’t need an infusion of taxpayer cash.
The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce says it has raised more than half of the $30,000 it thinks is needed to build the dog park. It expects to use $14,300 of the money on hand to pay for park fencing.
“Now we’re raising money for the inside stuff — water stations, doggie disposable bag dispensers, benches, stuff like that,” said Ted Corcoran, chamber CEO and president. “We will continue the fund-raising.”
So far, so good. For more information or to donate, call the chamber at 244-8191.